The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-05-26

were placed on a described tract and the
act provided hat 30 cents per acre OF
Pawnee money might be used to pay
for il.
This act was also without authority
Of treaty and conveyed nothing. An
other act appropriated $4,000 to pay
for a small tract for the Poncas, of
which sum S4s, 3S9 40 was put to the
credit Of the Cherokee nation, a pro-
test being filed against it by the Chero-
kee representatives. This conveyed no
title. Harassed and unjustly treated
By these arbitrary proceedings, the
Cherokee national council at last in
structed her two delegates to obtain, if
possible. even the appraised price. Had
congress appropriated the money at
that time. and the Cherokee council
given authority TO execute deeds there
for. the United States might have re-
eeived the benefit of its unjust and arbi-
trary acts; but this it has in every case
persistently refused to do, holding that
il was in no sense bound to purchase or
authorize TO purchase save occupied
tracts. In 1881 $500. 600 was appropri-
ated Our delegation again en-
deayOreG TO C n a settlement. In
response Secretary Kirkwood wrote a
letter, Feb. %, 1882, taking the ground
that the settlement of the Cheyennes,
ArapahOes, Kiowas, and Comanches
had never been effected, and that the
United States could only pay for occu-
pied lands. He admitted hat the title
Is in the Cherokee nation, and suggest
Ell that steps be taken for acquiring the
legal title from the Cherokees TO the
occupied tracts.
These deeds were the first formal
or binding action of the Cherokee ma
ton OF these lands west of 90 degrees
since the treaty of 1866. They covered
all the occupied tracts, which were the
only tracts the United States was au-
thOrized to buy or that the Cherokee
nation Il under any obligation to sell.
After the completion of these
transactions the Cherokee nation had
no unsettled account with the United
States IN reference to any portion OF
these lands. There was not her and
there is not now an acre of these lands
that the United States is lawfully en-
titled to purchase. . Some parties
made the mistake that the lands had
been eeded. which was not true. Some
of the officials made the mistake of sup
that because the United States
could settle friendly Indians on certain
parts thereof the United States could do |
what it pleased with them. If the Cher
okee nation had held its land by oc-
cupancy title. and had their reserve
been a detached portion of the public |
domain, it would have been subject to
executive orders and congressional dis
position. 1t was and is the property of
the Cherokee nation. and can only be |
disposed of by it."
1t will thus be seen that the Cherokees
al the land in their territory, in
GLIDING the Cherokee strip. Oklahoma
fact. every part or parcel of land
Cherokee country. 1t will fur
be observed hat Chief Bushvhead
asserts that no tracts of lands were con-
Veyed to the United States other than
that occupied by divers tribes of In
lianS.
Meanwhile everyone is watching the
legislature as if to CLEAN from its pro-
ceedings some hint of the policy to be
observed in staying the tide of immi-
which is ready to pour into the
Cherokee country the moment con.
gresSional legislation will admit it.